1. Specific Contract under Framework Contract ENV.D2/FRA/2012/0013
Workshop on Compliance Promotion and Development of SIIFs:
Towards a modern information system for the
Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC)
6. A bit of IT: more insight on the information system
2nd UWWTD SIIF Workshop, DGENV – Brussels, 24 October 2013
Mr. Benoît Fribourg-blanc
Office International de l’Eau 1

2. Introduction
Current situation analysis showed some difficulties on IT aspects at MS level (no link to INSPIRE, scattered databases, absence of reference datasets, hand/manual collection…)
The new system proposed by the concept paper embeds:
Thematic aspects
IT aspects
And proposes a vision for the future on each aspect.
SIIF ambition requires a true shared information system:
UWWTD SIIF National node
UWWTD SIIF EU node
Approach for the EU node:
Centralised at EU level
Decentralised at national level

3. IT aspects: the UWWTD SIIF, a vision for the future
INSPIRE: public institutions must make their data (wide range of environmental topics) accessible via spatial web services and common data formats
UWWTD reported data are of interest for many different users (thematic domain experts, general public, EU services…)
 a shift from bottom up reporting to information exchange, The SIIF goes beyond reporting
Will it be easier for Member States to implement and
maintain several infrastructures (INSPIRE + different reportings)
or should it be just one single infrastructure serving different purposes? 3

4. UWWTD SIIF: requirements and expected results
Single infrastructure requires two elements: semantic and technical interoperability, i.e. a shared data model and associated definitions (semantic), and tools to exchange information (the services)
With a shared EU data model implemented with current information technologies
automation is possible (collection, QA/QC, retrieval)
Machine to machine data exchanges are eased
Update can distinguish datasets (reference datasets, data reported each year…)
Clear semantic increases the quality of data
Data can be made immediately available to all user 4

5. 5 Outline of UWWT SIIF reporting infrastructure
Reporting can use current system and/or new Web Feature Service (WFS)
EU node
National node
Link relevant in reporting context ? 5 5

6. 6 A decentralised system
UWWTD SIIF National node and UWWTD SIIF EU node fully interoperable
Nodes are connected via services
Nodes and services are a shared UWWTD Information System
UWWTD SIIF National node
Different starting points
Further local needs in each country
Interoperable with general eReporting infrastructure (target)
UWWTD SIIF EU node
Node for 28 UWWTD SIIF National node
Node for link to other EU information framework initiatives (e.g. other themes SIIFs, WFD, GMES) 6 6

7. 7 Why using spatial technologies for UWWTD reporting ?
UWWTPs, Discharge point, agglomerations and receiving areas have spatial representation: therefore are spatial data
INSPIRE Directive builds fundaments for European SDI
INSPIRE Directive cover so-called Themes
Theme “Utility and Government services” cover UWWTP and discharge point
Theme “Area management/restriction/regulation zones and reporting units” cover Agglomeration and receiving area
 Synergies with UWWTD, as INSPIRE service infrastructures have to be operated by Member States at different levels anyway
Potential for increased complexity lies rather in thematic field than in the technology used for communication
Specialisation of INSPIRE concepts is limited: no additional constraint (proved by first draft of INSPIRE compliant UWWTD SIIF model covering UWWTP, agglomeration, discharge point, receiving area + raise questions relevant for EU node) 7 7

8. 8 Outline of UWWT SIIF reporting infrastructure
From information technology point of view it should comprise
Common data model
Rules for Data and Quality Management (EU level, building on existing reporting system)
Centralised and transparent QA/QC procedures (EU level, building on existing reporting system)
Service oriented architecture using technologies requested by INSPIRE
Using INSPIRE data specifications for cross thematic interoperability
Rules for Network Interoperability …
Each aspect should be addressed via a separate process including delineation, testing and implementation. General picture defined with concept paper and specific IT annexe. Development and key aspects to address will be included in a roadmap and workplan (after 24/10 Workshop). 8 8

9. The UWWTD SIIF, a shift in data vehicle: current
AccessDB + SHP vs GML
Current situation (from Waterbase)
UE_CD_SA_CA (shp) = rcaCode (Access) = FR_SA_CA_01213
Shp content
Access content 9 9

10. The UWWTD SIIF, a shift in data vehicle: new system
AccessDB + SHP vs GML
Both geo and non geo content can coexist in a single flow
Non geospatial
(or name, rcaType…)
Geospatial 10
Attributes returned by a WFS can be defined using PropertyName in the query 10

11. The frontend of the system: SIIF interface(s)
Complementary/builds on the infrastructure
In a distributed system, each node should allow:
Content visualisation
Common IT information access: data model, codelists
Helpdesk
Dataflows representation
Links between EU and MS nodes (interface)
UWWTD legislation overview
EC node specific functions (validation & compliance service) 11

12. EU interoperability board
Insure IT consistency: a core need
Organisational aspect
Quick sketch at EU level:
One normalisation structure per information silo (water, air…)
One overarching structure to ensure consistency
Proposal:
Interoperability: INSPIRE “Maintenance and Implementation framework” and “Maintenance and Implementation Group”
Water: WISE TG supported by WISE TG
EU interoperability board
Water
Risks
Air
Marine
Biodiversity …
Floods
WFD
Bathing
UWWTD
Nitrates
Drinking 12 12

13. eReporting mechanism using INSPIRE services (basic)13 13

14. Contact details General project manager
Ms. Edith Hödl-Kreuzbauer (UBA)
Technical project manager
Ms. Katharina Lenz (UBA) – on maternity leave, replaced by Ms. Edith Hödl-Kreuzbauer
Mr. Benoît Fribourg-Blanc (OIEau)
Umweltbundesamt (UBA)
Office International de l‘Eau (OIEau)